Illinois (8-24) looked to get back on track Tuesday night against Northern Iowa (15-12) at Eichelberger Field. The Illini dropped 11 straight games heading into their matchup against the Panthers. Unfortunately for Illinois, its losing ways continued. Illinois found itself on the losing end of a 10-4 ballgame.
Nightmare start
Senior right-hander Karley Yergler commanded the circle for Illinois, but her outing was short-lived.
The Panthers attacked the Illini from the start. A 10-plus pitch walk to begin the game set the table for a roar of offensive production from Northern Iowa. The Panthers proceeded to launch back-to-back bombs, the latter of which landed on Kirby Avenue behind the left field wall. The next two batters drew hit-by-pitches.
This knocked Yergler out of the game before she could record an out. Sophomore right-hander Danika Frazier replaced Yergler. Frazier yielded a single to load the bases, but secured a timely double play that gave Illinois a chance to get off the field, having only surrendered three runs.
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However, a walk and two singles ballooned Northern Iowa’s lead to 6. A dropped fly ball by sophomore center fielder Eden Echevarria allowed the Panthers to tack on one more, making it 7-0.
When the Illini finally got off the field, head coach Tyra Perry was waiting for them. Perry gathered the girls together and gave a brief speech to get them going.
“We have a long game ahead of us; we can’t worry about anything,” Perry said. “We have to make sure we’re checking pitches and putting pressure on the other team.”
This speech seemed to inspire the Illini, who responded with two runs of their own. Junior outfielder Skylar Brennan got it going with a single, and sophomore infielder Keirys Click followed with one of her own. After a passed ball, which put the runners on second and third, junior infielder Eileen Donahue knocked them both in with a single.
This was the only offense Illinois could muster in the bottom half of the frame, but Frazier worked to keep them in the game. Her determination to keep her team in the game was adamant with each pitch.
Frazier steps up
Coming into Tuesday’s matchup, Frazier’s longest outing of the season was 3.2 innings at the start of the year. Up until Tuesday night, Frazier had only thrown 4.2 innings in the month of March. However, she put her team and pitching staff on her back against Northern Iowa, going all seven.
While not the prettiest outing, giving up seven runs, five of which were earned on seven hits, she still ate up innings and kept her team in the game.
Along the way, Frazier racked up three strikeouts, tying her season high. The sophomore also walked three and gave up one home run over the seven-inning outing.
“(Fraizer) is starting to come into her own,” Perry said. “She’s starting to figure out what kind of pitcher she is. I think what you saw in those innings is just the beginning of what she can do.”
Panthers scare off Illini
After Northern Iowa tacked on another run in the top half of the third, Illinois went quiet until the fourth, where it cut the lead to 5 on a double steal. Sophomore catcher Jackie Yeager gave herself up at second, allowing senior infielder Gabrielle Debevec to score.
Illinois again chipped away in the fifth, with a three-hit inning resulting in a run. This made it a three-run game.
However, a two-run blast from the Panthers would scare the Illini’s comeback away. After the home run to make it 10-4, Illinois went six up six down to end the game.
Up next
This weekend, the Illini take on the Golden Gophers (11-20, 3-3) in a three-game set in Minneapolis. The series kicks off Friday, with the first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m. CDT.
